Get your car serviced ahead of time. Visit your mechanic for routine and preventive maintenance – no one wants to break down, especially in the cold or the snow.

Check your battery. When the temperature drops, so does battery power. Have your mechanic check for sufficient voltage.

Check your cooling system. When coolant freezes, it expands. Make sure you have enough coolant in your vehicle and that it’s designed to withstand the winter temperatures you might experience in your area.

Fill your windshield washer reservoir and keep some extra on hand in your vehicle. You can go through a lot of windshield wiper fluid quickly in a single snowstorm.

Check your windshield wipers and defrosters. Make sure your windshield wipers work and replace worn blades. Check to see that your window defrosters (front and rear) work properly.

Verify floor mat installation to prevent pedal interference. Incorrect or improperly installed floor mats in your vehicle may interfere with the operation of the accelerator or brake pedal, increasing the risk of a crash.

Inspect your tires. Keep a tire pressure gauge in your vehicle at all times and check pressure when tires are “cold” — meaning they haven’t been driven on for at least three hours. Look closely at your tread and replace tires that have uneven wear or insufficient tread.

And remember, if you’re hurt in an accident, call the Jaklitsch Law Group.